As the pre-draft process has worn on, some things have become extremely clear while others have become increasingly muddled. After some early competition from Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward has easily established himself as the top passing option in this year’s draft class, and the closer we get to the draft, the clearer that appears to be. What has become muddled is Sanders’ positioning up top with Ward. 
Sanders has been experiencing a drop in draft stock following a series of reportedly poor interviews during the NFL Scouting Combine, per Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic. While Sanders still has the experience and talent to be a high draft pick, some have wondered if he could slide out of the first round entirely. Even More have posited that another quarterback may end up surpassing him as QB2 on most draft boards.
Per Jeff Howe, also of The Athletic, Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss has continuously forced himself into the picture. Dart first established himself as a potential first-rounder with an impressive week at the Senior Bowl. As talk continued at the combine, two teams expressed that they strongly believed Dart would get taken in the top half of the first round.
Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports noted that Louisville’s Tyler Shough is another passer who’s drawn rave reviews during the pre-draft process. Shough has a strong, quick arm and found a way to deliver a 4.64-second 40-yard dash despite a massive 6-foot-5 frame. Though we’re still a ways away from the start of the draft, one personnel director claimed that Shough may have done enough to work his way up into QB3 talk and a potential first-round grade.
While Sanders, Dart, and Shough battle it out for second place, the overwhelming sentiment coming out of the combine was that there is a wide gap between Ward and QB2, which begs the question of which team up top will make a move to draft him. Of course, the Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick, but the Giants have been linked to a possible trade up for that pick.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen was publicly linked to Sanders early and often throughout the college football season, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan points out that, despite little coverage, Schoen attended three Miami games (one more than Colorado) and went to a Hurricanes practice before the team’s bowl game. The general consensus was that Ward left quite an impression on Schoen and is likely sitting atop the team’s quarterback rankings.
The Raiders are another team rumored to be in the running for Ward and Sanders, and some thought that may have changed with the team’s acquisition of veteran starter Geno Smith. Well, we know that Las Vegas is still very much considered to be in play for a first-round quarterback, but their approach to doing so may have changed. If you’re to buy the predictions of Tafur and Reed above, the Raiders may even trade back with confidence that they could still land Sanders in the middle of the first round.
One team that was recently rumored to be in the hunt for a rookie quarterback, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, is the Cowboys. It seems hard to believe that, with Dak Prescott recently getting his extension, Dallas would spend a quality draft pick on a passer — a sentiment echoed by Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS — but Rapoport, nonetheless, believes that with the loss of key backup Cooper Rush to Baltimore, the team could pick a quarterback in the second or third round.
How early Dallas takes a stab at the quarterback position could very well depend on how quickly Ward, Sanders, Dart, and, potentially, Shough come off the board. If the Sanders, Dart, and Shough all slide a bit, the Cowboys could be tempted to use an earlier pick to secure a rookie backup with a higher ceiling. If Sanders, Dart, and Shough all come off the board fairly early on Day 1, Dallas may be content to wait a bit and select one of the project passers of the draft.
If the latter occurs, there are plenty of options, including Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ohio State’s Will Howard. While all these quarterbacks are held in varying esteems across the league, each team seemingly has a project passer in mind. For instance, Milroe spent today with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth ahead of tomorrow’s pro day, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
One thing remains clear: Ward is QB1 and a potential No. 1 overall pick. Behind that, pundits and analysts are muddy on who stands as QBs 2-4, where a team like Dallas could choose a passer, and which teams have which quarterbacks on their radar as potential project picks. We have lots to learn in the next month and a half about the options surrounding the 2025 quarterback draft class.
These rumors sound very legitimate and do not in any way appear to be some kind of smokescreen intended to push Sanders down the board.
Hmm. Is this comment a smokescreen?
Hmm is THIS comment a smokescreen?
Nobody needs to do that. He’s not a top ten player.
I know that people say this every year, but there really isn’t a QB that I like here as a worry-free use of a first round pick.
Hey, come on. Use your imagination. EVERY first round pick comes with worry.
Upvoted for that sentiment.
We notice quarterback busts a lot more, but we’ve seen some pretty bad busts and overdrafts at every position in recent years. At least quarterback has the upside of being a quarterback.
Or in the more world weary way, what CAN’T go wrong?
@ Oooof and AK185, as the two I most respect on all the boards on TR, don’t join forces and have even keel and thought out dialogue. LOL. I really appreciate what both of you bring to the table and to help see the big picture.
I think Sanders has swung around to being underrated—maybe not by teams, but by fans. Dart is a much riskier prospect. He could turn out better, but his production in college involved a whole lot of deep shots to open receivers that won’t happen in the NFL. Sanders might only have upside that looks more like a healthy Teddy Bridgewater, but he’s shown accuracy and decision making with an atrocious offensive line. In an offseason when rebuilding teams are looking at Rodgers and Wilson, taking a shot on a guy like that on a rookie deal sounds pretty worthwhile.
If Ewers and everyone at Texas are telling the truth about him gutting out an injury most of last season, he’s my favorite gamble of the quarterbacks who won’t go day one.
I still think Shedeur is the most pro ready QB right now and could be good enough to save some jobs that are on the hot seat (Browns and Giants). Doesn’t mean he’ll have a long, successful career as an elite starter or be the best in the class but I think he won’t look as bad as people expect him to. His last name is a double-edged sword…I think he’s getting a little more hype than he probably should based solely on his last name—like he’s probably a Day 2 pick with a different last name—but I also think people are quicker and more eager to poke holes in his profile for the same reason.
But Sanders is a pretty common last name
I feel like the past decade or so, there’s always chatter about this or that QB not being a worth a high 1st round pick, then come draft time, teams panic and start grabbing QBs. I mean, last year we had six QBs in the top 12. I get that QB is by far the most important position, but sometimes patience is key. If the Raiders had panicked and traded up last year, like many experts predicted, they would have missed out on Bowers.
Maybe I’m just saying all of this because I’m a Giants fan and I have a bad feeling that they’ll pass on Hunter and overdraft Sanders instead.
If you’re a QB you hope you slide down the draft board.
Imagine Sanders falling to the Steelers or dare I say the 49ers. Would 49ers move on from Purdy and take Sanders to give them 5 years of a rookie QB contract?